Sunday, October 1, 2000

 

11:49 p.m. Whew! Scrap, scratch, fuss, flurry.

Yup, I put everything off until the last possible minute and I've been so deep in the artistic fervor that is my monthly redesign, I feel as though I've already written an entry. I mean, who needs words, when you have such beautiful images to contemplate?

I'm so proud to showcase some really gorgeous pictures this month. The photo on the index page and the one here, as well as the one on the tomorrow page, are all by my sister, Joan Hayfield. She is a true master of the lens.

She likes to go on long rural walks and whenever she finds an abandoned house, she moves in for a closer look. She really has a way with windows and doors, don't you think? It almost makes you glad it's October -- when else could you ever see such lush, furry color? Not that I'm homesick -- I think I'm actually home-sicker-than-a-dog.

I had been hoping to be heading back East right about now, back into the loving arms of family and the friendly arms of folks at JournalCon, but it is not to be. This eagle is grounded; this road trip is stuck in the driveway. And I just know that the leaves are going to be at their most lovely this year -- this is going to be the best fall, ever, for apples -- just as it was the best summer, I hear, for corn. Don't even get me started on the tomatoes.

But, back to the photos. My sister sells framed enlargements, and one of my projects that I've gotten underway, but not actually completed, is a gallery of many of her images. If you think you'd like to have one done up and framed and all, write me and I will start the process. Dare I say it without cringing? Christmas is coming ...

Yes, folkes, that fabulous holiday that breaks the strongest amongst us: it's only two months away now. I don't want to be too surly too early, but I don't have any money this year. No money at all. Not an extra copper-colored penny lying around, and if I had a few of them, I'd be trying to get the car ready for a road trip and I'd be out of here, heading East.

And while I'm on the subject of things that make me snarl, can I say again how much I don't like messing with the clocks? Don't like it at all. It isn't natural. It isn't sporting, and it isn't right. We should be going gentle into the good soft October night, not slamming up against a sudden arbitrary wall of darkness.

Yeah, I know. These are lost causes, but that's not stopping me. Things change. People change. On the other hand, I wonder when people are going to stop going "whooop whooop" in audiences to show approval? In the old days people used to clap politely. Look at any ancient black and white show from the '50s and look at the way the audience behaves. They have those little clamshell hats with veils and gloves ... and instead of jumping up and pumping their fist in the air ... they titter. These days, when you turn on a show with an audience, you have to be fast on the mute button if you want to stay sane. People have stirred these audiences up to a fare-de-froth. They're screaming, they're yelling, they're whooping their brains out. When will it end?

Ok -- I've got to get my stuff uploaded and get this show on the road. No time for frivolities and mirth. I'm a serious person who's way behind on my other stuff. But, I'll bet you really like my rodeo ants down below, am I right? Whooo.